The dangers of recklessly throwing items over of an overpass are extreme, but the people who commit this act seldom know of the consequences. This act, it seems, is mostly committed by teenagers who have too much time on their hands, and decide that there might be some excitement found in throwing small rocks, or ice at cars. Most of these teenagers do not know that what they are doing is illegal and they could be fined or even locked up for what they are doing. Even a small rock, if it hits a windshield with enough speed, can break through it, and even if it doesn't it is sure to scare the life out of whoever is in the car that is being hit. Whoever plays this game is just playing Russian Roulette with an innocent person's life, and eventually someones life will be cut short by their little "game."
Statistics and News Articles Related to this Hazard:
"We don't look at these as childish pranks. These could have caused serious crashes. The crash near Mattoon could have been more serious if other vehicles had been in the roadway after the driver hit the object in the road."
On a nice hot summers day a couple of hooligans decide it would be a rip-roaring good time to lob some rocks off the highway overpass over Interstate 95. The height of the overpass they were on was approximately 5.02 meters high. Calculate the velocity of the rocks to see the speed at which these objects could possibly be smashing into car windows
How the Kinematics (principles of motion) Relate to This Hazard:
Displacement: The height of the the bridge, how far the rock has to fall. Acceleration: The acceleration of the object is the change in velocity over time. The acceleration will help determine the speed at which the rocks will possibly hit a car. Starting Velocity: The starting velocity is 0m/s because the object started at rest. Time: The time it takes in which to fall from the overpass to the ground (or a car) Velocity: The speed at which the rock will hit the car.
The kinematic property that is the most crucial for judging life vs. death in this situation is the velocity of the object. The velocity tells whether or not the object will simply bounce off the car window or go smashing through and taking a life with it.
Step by Step Solving Process:
What we know: Displacement: 5.02 meters Acceleration: 9.8 m/s/s. (Gravity) Starting Velocity: The starting velocity is 0m/s because the object started at rest.
What we need to find:
Time and velocity
Formulas Used:
(Delta)X=1/2(a)(t)^2+Vo*t (to find the time)
V=Vo+a*t (to find the velocity)
First we need to find the time:
(Delta)X=1/2(a)(t)^2+Vo*t
5.02=1/2(9.8)(t)^2+0*t 5.02=4.9(t)^2+0*t
4.9 4.9
1.02=(t)^2
√ √
1.00s=(t)
Then we use the time to find the velocity:
V=Vo+a*t
V=0+9.8*1
V=0+9.8
V=9.8m/s
The egg will (possibly) hit a car with a velocity of 9.8 meters in a second.
How this Hazard Can be Avoided With a Better Knowledge of Kinematics:
If the teenagers who throw things off of overpasses knew more about the dangers and how fast these objects actually hit the cars then that might persuade them to stop doing it and to stop putting other peoples lives in jeopardy.
Conclusion:
Don't be an imbecile and throw things off of overpasses. It's stupid, dangerous, and illegal. You can end up going to jail with someone's blood on your hands. Don't do it.
Description of Safety Hazard:
The dangers of recklessly throwing items over of an overpass are extreme, but the people who commit this act seldom know of the consequences. This act, it seems, is mostly committed by teenagers who have too much time on their hands, and decide that there might be some excitement found in throwing small rocks, or ice at cars. Most of these teenagers do not know that what they are doing is illegal and they could be fined or even locked up for what they are doing. Even a small rock, if it hits a windshield with enough speed, can break through it, and even if it doesn't it is sure to scare the life out of whoever is in the car that is being hit. Whoever plays this game is just playing Russian Roulette with an innocent person's life, and eventually someones life will be cut short by their little "game."Statistics and News Articles Related to this Hazard:
"We don't look at these as childish pranks. These could have caused serious crashes. The crash near Mattoon could have been more serious if other vehicles had been in the roadway after the driver hit the object in the road."
http://www.herald-review.com/news/article_5a593b4b-5620-5493-a057-68db5afbc4fb.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/04/car_hit_by_bowling_ball_thrown.html
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2003-2004/billanalysis/House/htm/2003-HLA-4632-a.htm
Scenario:
On a nice hot summers day a couple of hooligans decide it would be a rip-roaring good time to lob some rocks off the highway overpass over Interstate 95. The height of the overpass they were on was approximately 5.02 meters high. Calculate the velocity of the rocks to see the speed at which these objects could possibly be smashing into car windowsHow the Kinematics (principles of motion) Relate to This Hazard:
Displacement: The height of the the bridge, how far the rock has to fall.Acceleration: The acceleration of the object is the change in velocity over time. The acceleration will help determine the speed at which the rocks will possibly hit a car.
Starting Velocity: The starting velocity is 0m/s because the object started at rest.
Time: The time it takes in which to fall from the overpass to the ground (or a car)
Velocity: The speed at which the rock will hit the car.
The kinematic property that is the most crucial for judging life vs. death in this situation is the velocity of the object. The velocity tells whether or not the object will simply bounce off the car window or go smashing through and taking a life with it.
Step by Step Solving Process:
What we know:Displacement: 5.02 meters
Acceleration: 9.8 m/s/s. (Gravity)
Starting Velocity: The starting velocity is 0m/s because the object started at rest.
What we need to find:
Time and velocity
Formulas Used:
(Delta)X=1/2(a)(t)^2+Vo*t (to find the time)
V=Vo+a*t (to find the velocity)
First we need to find the time:
(Delta)X=1/2(a)(t)^2+Vo*t
5.02=1/2(9.8)(t)^2+0*t
5.02=4.9(t)^2+0*t
4.9 4.9
1.02=(t)^2
√ √
1.00s=(t)
Then we use the time to find the velocity:
V=Vo+a*t
V=0+9.8*1
V=0+9.8
V=9.8m/s
The egg will (possibly) hit a car with a velocity of 9.8 meters in a second.
How this Hazard Can be Avoided With a Better Knowledge of Kinematics:
If the teenagers who throw things off of overpasses knew more about the dangers and how fast these objects actually hit the cars then that might persuade them to stop doing it and to stop putting other peoples lives in jeopardy.Conclusion:
Don't be an imbecile and throw things off of overpasses. It's stupid, dangerous, and illegal. You can end up going to jail with someone's blood on your hands. Don't do it.Cited Resources:
http://www.interstate-guide.com/interstate.htmlhttp://www.herald-review.com/news/article_5a593b4b-5620-5493-a057-68db5afbc4fb.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/04/car_hit_by_bowling_ball_thrown.html
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2003-2004/billanalysis/House/htm/2003-HLA-4632-a.htm